Harrisburg & DCPost-Gazette: Most Pa. lawmakers voted yes on farm billPost-Gazette: What’s in the 2018 Farm Bill: a new crop, more organic-growing techniques and a lifeline for dairy farms Post-Gazette: Pa. drafts new limits on air pollution from gas wells as feds reconsider rulesPost-Gazette: State Rep. Frankel seeking support for bills to give cities more power over gun lawsPost-Gazette: Pennsylvania child porn case inspires law to secure restitution for victimsAP: New charge filed for man arrested for threatening Trump AP: 2 more Pennsylvania casinos open up for sports bettingStateImpactPA: Trump administration rolls back Obama-era water protections StateImpactPA: Teenager’s asthma, in shadow of Clairton Coke Works, frames town’s struggle with dirty airPLSReporter: Pension reform commission prepares final report, will vote on approval next week WHYY Newsworks: Holiday card campaign to Gov. Wolf calls for repeal of Pa.’s new prison mail policyWHYY Newsworks: Algorithm to reform criminal sentencing in Pa. faces deluge of criticismWHYY Newsworks: Battle over school tax hike in wealthy Pa. district to be heard in state court KYW Newsradio: Pa. lawmakers review controversial law requiring licenses for professional hair braiding KYW Newsradio: 2 women sue state for denying them cosmetology licenses due to ‘moral character’Inquirer: Opioid use during pregnancy on the rise in Pa., data show Inquirer: Marijuana industry must be socially responsible when pot becomes legal, CMU expert says York Dispatch: Wolf announces ‘Moving Pennsylvania forward’ events for Inauguration DayYork Daily Record: Two Pa. pipelines almost done, but at what cost?Morning Call: How did Pennsylvania lawmakers vote on the farm bill? Morning Call: What the presidents of Pennsylvania’s private universities make

PhiladelphiaBilly Penn: Here’s everything Philly’s soda tax money is (and isn’t) paying forInquirer: After talk with Philly congressman, Amtrak says it may keep flipboard at 30th Street StationInquirer: Poverty among older Philadelphians on the rise Inquirer: Philly home values are rising. Will taxes keep rising with them?Inquirer: How to get free naloxone in Philadelphia on Thursday KYW Newsradio: City pollution hearing finds some communities aren’t feeling much improvementKYW Newsradio: Angry library lovers march on Philadelphia City Hall, demand more fundingKYW Newsradio: Philadelphia School Board votes on contract to build new school in MayfairKYW Newsradio: Pa. lawmakers review controversial law requiring licenses for professional hair braidingKYW Newsradio: 2 women sue state for denying them cosmetology licenses due to ‘moral character’Philly Voice: Philadelphia’s interns will now be paid to work at mayor’s office PLSReporter: Mayor, Controller quarrel over soda tax reportWHYY Newsworks: Holiday card campaign to Gov. Wolf calls for repeal of Pa.’s new prison mail policyWHYY Newsworks: Philly’s most dangerous roads clustered in black and brown neighborhoods WHYY Newsworks: Philly goes to school: Lessons in inclusive, universal pre-K

South CentralYork Dispatch: York City Mayor Michael Helfirch’s first year graded – from B to DYork Dispatch: Wolf announces ‘Moving Pennsylvania forward’ events for Inauguration Day LNP | LancasterOnline: Proposal to close Elizabethtown district court denied by state Supreme CourtYork Daily Record: Two Pa. pipelines almost done, but at what cost?Carlisle Sentinel: Assistant Superintendent Alan Vandrew retiring from Mechanicsburg School DistrictHarrisburg Patriot News: Harrisburg police officer shortage will become a ‘real issue’ in 2020, mayor says Harrisburg Patriot News: Dauphin County passes budget with no tax increase for 14th year in a row

2 thoughts on “December 13th Playbook”

Ballot measures of national interest in 2018 tell an interesting story. In regard to redistricting reform Michigan had Proposal 2 that offered the creation of an independent commission for approving congressional and legislative districts and it passed this November 61% to 39%. Missouri Amendment 1 creates a non partisan demographer to draw redistricting plans for state commissions and it passed 62% to 38%. Utah Proposition 4 creates an independent commission for approving Congressional and Legislative Districts and it passed 50.3% to 49.7%. Medicaid Expansion passed in Idaho 60% to 40%. Medicaid Expansion passed in Nebraska 53% to 47%. Medicaid Expansion passed in Utah 53% to 47%. All information taken from an “Inside Elections” poster recently mailed out. What does all this mean? Even red states want fair redistricting despite what the Pa Republican leadership thinks and there is a concern for healthcare that actually covers people without going broke again despite what Republican leadership thinks.